We started class with a YouTube video someone made of Thor's hero journey to help the students get a better grip on how to pick out elements of the hero journey in any story.
We then talked about the hero journey in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The hero journey in this book is a bit different in order of events, but still has all the same elements.
We finished class with a great discussion and how the book is an allegory to the plan of salvation.
It is important to know a little about the author of a book to understand their motives and what messages that could be included in their writings. We started
To understand why the Pevensies were sent away from their family in London, we talked a little about WWII and watched this:
To get an idea of what the Blitz was like and why children were evacuated, we watched this:
We talked a little about propaganda, and the message Great Britain was sending with this documentary.
Finally, I introduced (or reviewed) Joseph Campbell's Hero Journey and asked them to think about it as they read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for next week's discussion.
Hopefully, next week everyone will have the book read and ready for discussion.
This semester we are taking a trip to the land of Narnia! We are reading the books in the order that they were published, not chronological order. I like how the series unfolds that way.
Inspire your students to try to have The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe read by the second week of class, Sept 24. I would think most are familiar with the story. If they have read it recently, have them skim through it before class.
